Effect of Radiation and Chemical Mutagen on Variability in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Corms at different stages of growth rate were subjected to different doses of physical and chemical mutagens. The study revealed that Colchicine (0.05%) was found beneficial for enhancing pistil length, leaf number and leaf length with a negative effect on survival corm treatment with radiation dose of 0.2 kr, EMS (0.1%) and Ethidium Bromide (0.2%) showed significant positive effect on survival, increased number of heavier flowers and pistil weight. Mutagens induced morphological and anatomical variants showing increased number of stomata, thicker and broader leaves. Floral variant induced in M1 through 0.2 kr radiation had no genetic base and was purely environmental. Resting bud stage (1 st -15 th June) has been identified as appropriate stage for inducing variation through physical and chemical mutagens. Plants showing variability have been tagged and will be studied during ensuring season.